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An independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.

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Climate Central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea level rise. Read More

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Members of the Climate Central staff and board are among the most respected leaders in climate science. Staff members are authorities in communicating climate and weather links, sea level rise, climate. Read More

2013 Tornado Drought

Drought is a bad thing — unless you’re talking about a tornado drought. And other than a few specific areas, the nationwide January through April tornado count is way down, 54 percent to be exact.

Pinpointing the reason for tornado droughts (and deluges) isn’t always easy. Last year’s drought — the actual drought that devastated much of the Great Plains — robbed the atmosphere of the water vapor that fuels severe thunderstorms. Since tornadoes come from thunderstorms, this key thunderstorm ingredient was missing.

This year, while the drought is still going on, it’s much less severe — yet we may be seeing another tornado drought in the making. This time, it may be the relatively cool spring air much of the nation has been experiencing. Heat is another key ingredient of thunderstorms.

As for 2014 and beyond, it’s natural to wonder if climate change will make tornado activity more or less severe as the planet continues to warm. The answer is not clear. Since tornadoes play out in the atmosphere, it’s likely that a changing climate will also change tornado activity. But tornadoes are complicated beasts, affected not only by moisture and temperature but also by wind shear and other factors. So far, there’s simply not enough information to say anything definitive about the future of tornadoes under global warming — but that, too, will change in coming years.